“In the quiet solitude of her son’s bedroom, her mind drifted and fixated on her husband’s .45 caliber pistol.In November 2018, the sergeant first class thought about suicide for the first time. Since she had accepted an assignment to serve as a platoon sergeant in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Chelsea struggled to strike a balance of time for duty and family.
“I was good enough at work,” she said. “I wasn't good enough at home. I was failing somewhere. … Nothing was good enough.”She tried to envision how her life would be different if she ended her life.
The survivor: Soldier overcomes battle with suicide
By Joseph Lacdan, Army News ServiceSeptember 9, 2020 (https://www.army.mil/article/238891/the_survivor_soldier_overcomes_battle_with_suicide?ssp=1&setlang=en-US&safesearch=moderate)
Welcome to "The Mettle of Honor Podcast: Veteran Stories of strength, courage, & perseverance. This weeks guest is Sergeant First Class (SFC) Chelsea Porterfield, a retired Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the United States Army. Chelsea served as a Military Police (MP) in peacetime and in multiple combat tours. She also served as a Drill Sergeant, an Instructor for the MP’s Captains Career Course, and sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. (https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/). During her tenure as the 38th Sergeant of the Guard, she made history as the first female to hold this esteemed position.
Listen in as we delve into Chelsea's remarkable journey. Her journey is remarkable-not because of her accomplishments in uniform, but because of her persistence and tenacity to push forward in life.
Chelsea shares powerful insights as to what was going on personally with her struggles and contemplating suicide.
Through heartfelt conversations, we explore the challenges Chelsea faced and the resilience she embodied in her military career.
Tune in to this extraordinary episode of "The Mettle of Honor Podcast" as we honor the extraordinary service and leadership of SFC Chelsea Porterfield, a true hero among us.
The Survivor: Soldier Overcomes battle with suicide | By Joseph Lacdan | Army News Service | September 9, 2020 | https://www.army.mil/article/238891/the_survivor_soldier_overcomes_battle_with_suicide
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